Religious coping of parents with mentally disabled children

The study aims to evaluate and to reveal the place and function of religion on parents' interpretation of having a child with mental disabilities and coping with the situation. The study was conducted using a qualitative method. Semi structured interviews and observations were done with 22 voluntary parents who have at least a child with mental disabilities studying at Gönül Pınarı Special Education Application Center and Work Application Center and Dede Korkut Primary School in Gaziosmanpaşa, Istanbul. Content analysis and descriptive analysis were used to analyze collected data. Detailed evaluations were done based on findings which are elaborated in the study. It is revealed that the religion has an important place on parents for interpretation of having a child with mental disabilities and for coping with the situation.